The Second Sunday after Christmas (OT)

1 Kings 3:1-15

Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. ² The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

³ Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. ⁴ And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ¹³ I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. ¹⁴ And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵ And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

The King has come to sit on his father’s throne. He comes to sacrifice to God in the high places. He comes to listen to what the Lord has in store for his life. This King of Israel comes at a young age to rule over his kingdom. He comes not to the temple because it has not yet been built, but still comes to receive the gifts of God.

He requests not for power, might, defeat of his enemies, and stature. He only requests wisdom from God. He requests the ability to rule his people in righteousness. This should be the request of ever father of a household, or governor, or ruler in any land. These people should desire to do what is best for their people, but most often they just want to maintain their throne.

Solomon is worried about making the wrong choices. But just like Jesus in the temple as a young child, he sits to learn wisdom from on high. Solomon learns from God. Jesus is God. Solomon will then become the wisest King to ever rule Israel, until the true Son of David, Son of Abraham, and Son of God comes in the flesh.

Jesus is our King who rules in righteousness. He forgives his people and has compassion on his people. He loves his people enough to die for his people. Jesus has died for the forgiveness of your sins. He lives for your eternal life. He breaths his word for us to read and grow in wisdom just as Jesus and Solomon once did.